bemused outsider ...and they need the free publicity, because of... Why?/ignore these turds.

I am all for ignoring the demonstrations, but let's focus on the people. We all know Freddy and his crazy relation spokeswoman that shine in the sun. But there members of the community that take part in these things. And if I have reading body language right, the way they cover up during photos they are not in it for the press. They probably see the Phelps as family still.

For instance one is a aerobics instructor in the YMCA in Topeka Kansas. Someone local needs to handout fliers. I think other work in the fringes of law enforcement. I bet that would be a issue dividing the law enforcement community in Topeka, Kansas.

If people were to know that some of these people drive specific colored cars with specific license plates, that would be of knowledge to the the local population in Topeka.

Can we agree don't give the protesters attention, but lets give the members of the active members of the family attention in the community like they deserve.

You would think these people would get tired of waiting for God's wrath. At some point you would think they would be like, "god, we've been complete dicks for you, we're hated by, well, everyone. We do everything to spread your message of hate and intolerance. For farks sake we've protested at the funeral of kids. how bout bringing some wrath".

The only thing holding this outcome from perfection is some dumbass reporter feeling a need to give them even this small amount of publicity. It's not us who keep giving them attention, it's the media.

You know, "professional" media don't try to influence or generate the story. Let these miscreants be and quit giving them their 15 minutes of fame every time they rear their ugly faces.

I was going to come in here to say that the WBC is a bunch of idiots, but after reading a few comments, it's clear that even they still pale in comparison to the better part of the population of Fark. Seriously, you all are still using the rather derogatory "teabaggers" name, and you expect people who disagree with you to take you seriously? It's clear that you aren't interested in debate, it's either agree with you or you'll start name calling. You can't ever make the WBC look good, but boy, you all are truly exceptional at making yourselves look bad.

We are being trolled for the last 20 years by these clowns and every time you acknowledge their existence it only makes them stronger.

/Yes we all hate them. Everyone on Earth hates them. There's no point talking about it or bringing them any more media coverage or attention.

You raise an interesting point. Let's discuss. There's several other people in this thread saying we should ignore them. Maybe we could all start a facebook page and discussion about how we aren't going to discuss them anymore.

That was them? Huh. I saw a few street preachers, some had "if you can read this, you're going to hell"-style signs, heard about one guy up in a tree with an anti-abortion sign, but nothing that seemed out of the ordinary for the type. Maybe I didn't see them, but it just seemed like pretty basic evangelist SOP, nothing outlandish enough to associate with that group. Maybe WBC needs to step up their game a bit.

randomjsa:<b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7547913/82035288#c82035288" target="_blank">Weaver95</a>:</b> <i>how sad and pathetic do you have to be to show up and protest Obama and not even the gotdamn tea baggers come out and support you...?</i>

Comparing the Tea Party to WBC would be akin to comparing OWS to Brown Shirts by the way.

That was always my thought. If they hate America so much, or at least Americans, yank their citizenship. Use...idk... some anti-American-hate-non-patriot excuse...and boot their butts out! Or at least "investigate" them for domestic terrorism, and hold them indefinitely in an offshore prison.

Step 1. Inflammatory protests while emphasizing 1st amendment freedom of speech.Step 2. Sue the bejesus out of any person of group that infringes your first amendment rights.

Has step 2 ever happened in recent years?I remember some case about their right to (not) protest close to funerals being decided; but I don't think I've ever read about them suing people attacking them.But by now they should be infamous enough that local authorities know how to deal with them - and I don't remember reading about individual people or other groups being sued or paying them tons of money.

My impression of them is more of a family-based sect who uses that mad crusade as a common cause and a common, external enemy to keep the sect from breaking apart.And that they probably use money earned at their jobs (and probably screw around with tax exemptions for their "church") to fund that crusade and avoid more family members from turning away.I'm only surprised that they're still getting work; well, maybe you aren't too picky if you need a pitbull for an ugly divorce or they operate under married names.Heck, someone even must marry into and connect their genitals with that crazy.

zerkalo:Meanwhile, Mars Hill Church own resident D-Bag chimed in, saying Obama "will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to take an oath to a God he likely does not know."

My one friend had Mark Driscoll as a customer where he works today. Unfortunately he didn't recognize him until a coworker pointed out who it was so he wasn't able to get all flirty with Driscoll (which would have been hilarious).

rynthetyn:zerkalo: Meanwhile, Mars Hill Church own resident D-Bag chimed in, saying Obama "will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to take an oath to a God he likely does not know."

My one friend had Mark Driscoll as a customer where he works today. Unfortunately he didn't recognize him until a coworker pointed out who it was so he wasn't able to get all flirty with Driscoll (which would have been hilarious).

fusillade762:meat0918: <b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7547913/82035511#c82035511" target="_blank">Gosling</a>:</b> <i><b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7547913/82035463#c82035463" target="_blank">KiwDaWabbit</a>:</b> <i>Weaver, the KKK came out against them in the wake of the Sandy Hill massacre. The KKK. They were the voice of reason.

Anyway, I hope everyone here signed the petition to classify them as a hate group at whitehouse.gov.</i>

Time expired on it on the 13th. It hit <a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/legally-recognize-west boro-baptist-church-hate-group/DYf3pH2d" target="_blank">327,748 signatures</a>. It set a site record.</i>

Hasn't the SPLC designated them as such already?

They have. And the Feds don't keep a list of hate groups, so the petition is essentially meaningless.

LOL! Of course the Feds DO keep a list of hate groups, and the WBC has been on it all along. IDK why people started a petition or care what's on the SPLC list. It's the FBI's list that matters.

cheap_thoughts:rynthetyn: zerkalo: Meanwhile, Mars Hill Church own resident D-Bag chimed in, saying Obama "will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to take an oath to a God he likely does not know."

My one friend had Mark Driscoll as a customer where he works today. Unfortunately he didn't recognize him until a coworker pointed out who it was so he wasn't able to get all flirty with Driscoll (which would have been hilarious).

Who's Mark Driscoll? That name sounds familiar.

The guy in the story zerkalo linked to. He's a megachurch pastor in Seattle who's basically an old school fundamentalist but with better taste in music and beer. Dude's a giant misogynist and homophobe who has been known to assert that men don't go to church because the worship leaders are too effeminate for real manly men to relate to (real men watch MMA and love Fight Club). Among his greatest hits was suggesting that the reason Ted Haggard cheated on his wife with a male prostitute because Mrs. Haggard wasn't putting out often enough.

In short, he's an incredibly polarizing figure both within the Christian community and the rest of the planet.

Lifelong democrat, as is his family Link. Ran for office several times as a democrat. Worked on campaigns of democrats. I honestly wish it was as simple as "all bad people are republicans, and all good people are democrats", but it isn't.

fusillade762:BarkingUnicorn: They have. And the Feds don't keep a list of hate groups, so the petition is essentially meaningless.

LOL! Of course the Feds DO keep a list of hate groups, and the WBC has been on it all along. IDK why people started a petition or care what's on the SPLC list. It's the FBI's list that matters.

The FBI does not publish a list of hate groups, and "Investigations are conducted only when a threat or advocacy of force is made; when the group has the apparent ability to carry out the proclaimed act; and when the act would constitute a potential violation of federal law."

I suppose the fact that they don't publish a list doesn't mean they don't have one.

ThrobblefootSpectreLifelong democrat, as is his family Link. Ran for office several times as a democrat. Worked on campaigns of democrats. I honestly wish it was as simple as "all bad people are republicans, and all good people are democrats", but it isn't.

Why can't there be evil people that vote democratic? Or confused good people that vote Republican?/Also the state is primarily Republican, so he has to go against the grain and get in where he can.

Lifelong democrat, as is his family Link. Ran for office several times as a democrat. Worked on campaigns of democrats. I honestly wish it was as simple as "all bad people are republicans, and all good people are democrats", but it isn't.

Phelps may be "officially" be a Democrat, but he's as much as an actual Democrat in the same way he is "officially" a Christian but doesn't actually embody positive Christian values.

Lifelong democrat, as is his family Link. Ran for office several times as a democrat. Worked on campaigns of democrats. I honestly wish it was as simple as "all bad people are republicans, and all good people are democrats", but it isn't.

I can call myself a Jedi Knight that doesn't mean I can move shiat with my mind.I can only do that on acid.

It doesn't matter what his official party affiliation is. I'm still a registered republican. Anti-same sex marriage and general homophobia are republican traits. Do you want a list? Pointing out that Phelps is a DINO (democrat in name only, not the smooth hipster from the Rat Pack) is the weakest, lamest argument about this cretin that there is.